To celebrate World TB Day 2010, Green Star (Good Life) TB Project Karachi organized a TB Seminar on March-27 at Karachi with their trained doctors, Government officials and cured patients who were treated by Green Star. The event also provided an opportunity to discuss various important issues including cure of the disease, diagnosis by trained providers, its medications, updated treatment, accessibility (100% DOTS coverage) and stigma.
The Deputy Manager TB Project of Karachi and Quetta of Greenstar and Good Life, Dr. Nazish Ashar informed the audience that TB was considered to be an incurable disease, however the advancement in medical science has made it possible to cure it if the disease is diagnosed in time. She gave the detailed presentation of TB with its updates.
“The alarming spread of TB is due to poor health conditions, adulterated food, contaminated water and low immunity in developing countries. More than half of all deaths occur in Asia. Pakistan ranks 7th among the most affected countries.” Every second person gets infected from the disease. Green Star Social Marketing is also fighting against TB through a weapon which is DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) strategy through Community Health Officers.
Dr. Nazish Ashar also gave presentation on World TB Day 2010 and its objectives and theme. She informed the audience that World TB Day is a world wide event that aims to raise public awareness of TB and its efforts to prevent and treat the disease. This event was announced in 1982. It is an observance day not a public holiday. She also explained how to prevent the spread of TB by covering the mouth if you are coughing and sneezing, not spitting on the ground.
She also stated that this year’s “Innovation to accelerate action “is the theme of World TB and around the region countries are marking the day in the line with the global theme of innovation with music, under the slogan,” Together singing the song of stop TB “, as music can elicit commitment to defeat TB in a way that no other medium or activity can, and can reach out the people who have never yet been involved to support the efforts to stop TB.
Manager TB Project of Greenstar and Good Life Dr. Kashif Iqbal said that Greenstar is providing free medicines to the TB patients at their door steps with the help of their Community Health officers. He shared the strategy, hierarchy and activities of GreenStar TB Project regarding awareness. Initially, they were working in 5 cities; Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi and now are working in all the cities of Pakistan and giving services to TB patients.
Then TB Song was also played which was highly admired by all. Dr. Zafar Aijaz, TB Coordinator of City District Government and Chief Guest Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Husain, Deputy Director Provincial TB Program highly appreciated the services of GreenStar and Good Life for the services to TB patients.
Last cured TB patient Ms. Sana after taking the medicines and treatment from the network of GreenStar Good Life gave her positive comments and thanked Green Star.
Two trained TB providers Dr. S. M. Zameer and Dr. Dilip Kumar highly appreciated the services of Green Star/Good Life TB Project. Samina Ikram, Khan Muhammad, Malik Waqas Munir and Muhammad Ameen got souvenirs of Best Community Health Officers of the year.
In the end, Dr. Mujeeb Ur Rab, General Manager TB Project of GreenStar and Good Life gave his closing remarks. He spoke high of the contribution of GreenStar /Good Life TB Project Karachi and was hopeful to eradicate this disease till 2015 from all over the country. He appreciated AMCH Dr. Masood and AMCH Yasir (for their comparing in programs), all members of Good Life TB Project Karachi team for arranging the successful event and also paid thanks to TB providers, cured patient, Government officials and all media people to attend the world TB Day Seminar.
TB Awareness Stall at Festival as part of activity of World TB Day
The Awareness Stall at the Hamara Karachi Festival stall which was held on 22nd of March 2010 in Lyari Town. Greenstar Good Life has set an example of the coverage of ACSM activities. It is here that awareness is given to the people regarding DOTS (Direct Observed Treatment Short Course) as DOTS ensures that patients receive Right Drugs, Right Dosage and Right Duration Of Treatment.
Hundred of peoples that visited the Festival, as well as visited this stall. At the stall awareness was provided regarding TB disease, about how its treatment is proved, its symptoms, diagnoses as well as treatment. Their misconceptions removed regarding TB which is one of the main factor in spread of TB. The people were informed how they can get prescribed TB treatment at their door steps by Good Life.
The Good Life team comprised of Dr. Nazish Ashar (Deputy Manager Community Health) Mohammad Yasir (A.M.C.H) Abdul Rehman (F.S) and C.H.O (Hafeez, Amin & Aamir) were present in that festival. Sharmeela Farooqui was the chief guest who is the advisor to the chief minister.
In the end Lyari town administrator Muhammad Raisi thanked the entire participants for being there. He gave appreciation certificates to participants and to persons from electronic media who recorded due comments which is one more step to remove misconceptions about TB.
IPC activities promote better understanding of TB and its cure
Inter Personal Communication (IPC) is a vital element in any development activity. It prepares people for behavior change, provides key information on key areas and help in decision making.
The philosophy lies at the root of the IPC strategy of Green Star (Good Life). The IPC activities aim to promote a better understanding of Tuberculosis (TB) and its cure among the masses, improve the quality of care provided to the TB patients and to reduce stigma. Green Star (Good Life) IPC is playing a distinct role in creating awareness about the disease, its curability and the availability of free high quality anti TB drugs at the door steps of TB patients. At the same time to reach out to the maximum number of cases , Green Star activities focus on private health providers , to sensitize them about the programme’s standard diagnostic and treatment regimens, and to motivate them to practice DOTS strategy.
Its Community Health Officer Shahid Raza planned a mega orientation meeting under the supervision of Field Supervisor Abdul Rehman and assistance of Assistant Manager Community Health Dr. Masood at Sindh Lab at M. A. Jinnah Road on 26.3.10 to celebrate World TB Day 2010.
This mega IPC event was an approach of behavior change of multiple audience. Their target audience were people at work site, current and former TB patients, health care workers, school going youths and general public.
In this mega event awareness was ensured regarding TB, its symptoms and treatment, promotion and exchange of valuable technical information in simple language. It was very interactive two way communication activity leading to improved understanding, shared knowledge and removed Misconceptions regarding TB. This mega IEC activity makes DOTS a familiar name among different target audiences so that there is an immediate association of the term “DOTS” with TB and its cure.
At this mega orientation meeting the Deputy Manager Dr. Nazish was also present. It was very much boosting for all of them to have Dr. Nazish being present there herself. Dr.Nazish appreciated their work and also took part in the activity herself.
Informative IPC material including brochures, leaflets and TB brochures about symptoms and other related information regarding Tuberculosis were also distributed among audience. A very good feed back was achieved of this meeting. Four suspects were identified in that meeting and they were referred for sputum test.